Archive of posts filed under the Incidents category.

Five Alarms in Downtown Raleigh – Moved to New Site

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March 26 This posting and its content has been moved to a dedicated page on the Raleigh Fire Museum web site. Head over to https://www.legeros.com/ralwake/raleigh/history/content/metropolitan/ March 22 WNCN news links added, more suppression details, incident notes formatted, canteen service added, need to add to diagram “A/B/C/D explanation.” March 21 Added more news links, more damage …

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Vintage Photos of Henderson High School Fire, 1968

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Passed along from our friends at the Henderson Fire Department is this Flickr album of vintage pictures of the Henderson High School fire on April 3, 1968. They were taken by Lyman McLean, a freelance photographer who worked for both the Henderson Daily Dispatch and the police department. The shots are from his personal collection, and now part …

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Thousands Evacuated, Dozens of Homes Burned – Western NC Wildfires of April 1985

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What have been the worst wildfires in our state’s history? Either in recent decades or way back when? Below is a “worst one” from 1985.  Let’s look back at another series of huge wildfires in western North Carolina. From the Raleigh Times on April 5, 1984, found while doing some local fire department research. List format, …

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Party Rock Fire – Massive Mutual Aid – Photos, Notes, and More

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Update – The fire was declared 100% contained as of December 1. The fire burned 7,142 acres. The cause remains under investigation. On Friday, November 11, 2016, fire departments around North Carolina were requested to help fight a wildfire in the western part of the state. A blaze had started six days earlier at Chimney …

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The Steer Steak House, Johnny’s Motor Lodge, and the Capital Inn

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On July 28, 1965, the Steer Steak House at 1625 Louisburg Road burned. Or as the road was later named, North Boulevard, and even later named, Capital Boulevard. Fire was reported at 3:55 a.m. by a passing motorist. Crews battled the blaze in a heavy rainstorm. The one-story structure (plus basement) suffered extensive damage and …

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Matthew Memories – Wake County Engine Company Strike Team

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On Thursday, October 13, 2016, a Wake County engine company strike team was dispatched to Bladen County, to assist with flood relief efforts and emergency responses in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Apex, Bay Leaf, Eastern Wake, Fairview, Knightdale, Stony Hill, and Wake Forest each sent a single engine plus members. Notes this News & …

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Restaurant Burns During Busy Night at NC State Fair, October 1964

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On Tuesday night, October 13, 1964, a restaurant building at the fairgrounds was destroyed during a busy night at the North Carolina State Fair. Thousands were attending the fair, and watched with rapt attention as a “portable” restaurant was consumed by flames. The $100,000 structure was a loss, and the blaze likely inspired the creation …

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Car Strikes Durham Fire Station, Fire Captain Narrowly Escapes Injury or Worse

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How’s that for a dramatic headline? Dateline Durham on Monday about 4:15 p.m., where Capt. Andrew Johnson had been sitting on a bed at Fire Station 14 on Umstead Road. Thirty seconds later, a car crashed through the wall and struck the very spot where he’d been sitting, reported the Herald-Sun. Herald-Sun photo The four-door …

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Matthew in Raleigh – Firefighters, Water Rescues, and Rescued Rescuers

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Contents Part I – Hurricane Matthew Part II – Old Stage Road Part III – Rose Lane Part IV – Numbers Part V – Wake County Water Rescues Part VI – Sources Part I – Hurricane Matthew On Saturday, October 8, heavy rain and winds pelted Raleigh and Wake County as Hurricane Matthew passed along …

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Water Rescue Teams Operating in North Carolina After Hurricane Matthew

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Let’s start a list of the swift-water rescue teams operating in North Carolina since Saturday and the arrival of Hurricane Matthew: Apex FDARR-MAC (Arrington FD, Mar-Mac FD)Asheville FD (as TF2)Cary FDCarolina Beach FD Chapel Hill FD (+ as TF8)Charlotte FD (as TF3 and NCHART)Clayton FDCumberland County SO (as TF?)Davie CountyFayetteville FD (as TF9)FEMA Task Force …

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